Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-31

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below shows the number of tourists visiting a particular Caribbean island between 2010 and 2017.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The line graph illustrates the number of tourists visiting a specific island in the Caribbean from 2010 to 2017.

Overall, the number of visitors increased sharply, whether visitors staying on cruise ships or staying on the island. Specifically, tourists preferred to stay on ships more than staying on an island.

Millions of tourists visited a Caribbean island in 7 years. In 2010, visitors preferred to stay on an island rather than on cruise ships. Approximately 0.75 million visitors liked to stay on an island and for the next three years this figure reached 1.5 million and was stable for a couple of years. After that, there was a decline for a year but in 2017 it remained stable at 1.5 million visitors.

In 2010, around 0.25 million visitors stayed on cruise ships, and this figure fluctuated for over 3 years at 0.5 million people. Then, the graph rose from 2013 to 2017 and nearly 2 million people preferred to stay on cruise ships. In total, 2.5 million visitors increased over that time from 10 lakhs to 35 lakhs. To be more precise, the total visitors increased from 2010 to

2015 and remained stable for a year and then rose sharply from 2016 to 2017.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview. You covered both categories (island stay and cruise ship) and made relevant comparisons. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you mention that in 2010, island visitors were 0.75 million, but the graph shows a different starting point. Additionally, the final paragraph becomes slightly confusing with the mention of 'lakhs', which is not standard in IELTS Academic tasks and contradicts the million-based scale used earlier. To improve, ensure your data extraction is precise and maintain consistent units throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Specifically', 'In 2010', and 'After that' to guide the reader. However, the progression within the final paragraph is somewhat disjointed, and the transition between the two categories could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the structure of the final paragraph feels a bit rushed and repetitive in its attempt to summarize the total figures. Using a wider variety of linking words would help improve the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'increased sharply', 'fluctuated', and 'remained stable'. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'whether visitors staying on cruise ships or staying on an island', which is grammatically imprecise. The use of 'lakhs' is inappropriate for an international exam context where millions are the standard unit. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding informal or non-standard terminology. Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'whether visitors staying on cruise ships or staying on an island' (which lacks a main verb) and 'this figure reached 1.5 million and was stable for a couple of years'. Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'In total, 2.5 million visitors increased over that time'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Frequent proofreading for minor errors will help you achieve a higher score.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.